Describe your perfect hour
Lolling around in the garden of my little cottage in north Wiltshire on a sunny, 23C afternoon, alone except for a bag of Maynards wine gums and the newspapers.
If you could spend five minutes with anyone famous, who would it be?
It’s already happened. I was lucky enough to have breakfast recently with Dame Sarah Gilbert, the most incredible, capable woman who led the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. How she managed the challenges and complexities of that time blows my mind.
What period of your life do you daydream about the most?
When I’m sitting on a plane on my own, I often return to the exciting moment when I first met my children.
When was the last time you checked social media?
This morning. I mean, it’s embarrassing, isn’t it? It’s so addictive and such a time-waster. That being said, I do think social media can feed your brain and spark ideas if you find and follow your own online tribe.
If you could go back in time, what would you tell your teenage self?
There’s that lovely Oscar Wilde quote: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
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When was the last time you cried?
I’m easily moved and find that a good cry can be quite cathartic. I often prefer a sad film to a happy one. My favourite? Oh God, watching Watership Down with my children broke my heart.
What do you never have enough time for?
Wasting time. There isn’t a moment when I’m not worrying about dealing with all the emails in my inbox, or thinking about a project that I’m working on, or about a project I don’t have the bandwidth to work on…
When did you last take public transport?
Last week. My commute includes crossing a bridge over the Thames, and there’s something lovely about that journey when you’re on the top floor of a bus. It gives you a nice perspective. Otherwise, my husband and I drive in our electric car, and I bore him with all my problems.
When was the last time you stole something?
A chocolate biscuit from someone in the office, about an hour ago. I steal things off people’s plates all the time.
When was the last time you belly laughed?
On the beach on the Mull of Kintyre with very good friends on May bank holiday weekend. We gave in to the day, swam in the sea, got punch drunk and danced to Zorba the Greek.
Which era in history would you like to have lived through?
The idea of going backwards, without all the things we’re used to today, would be pretty uncomfortable. I prefer to look forward.
If you make it to your 100 birthday, what would be the reason?
Dogged determination and endless optimism. Believing everything will be alright makes good things happen, which I think means you tend to live longer as well.